New Delhi: The Indian Premier League is unarguably the most successful and T20 league across the globe, but recently reports surfaced that Cricket Australia has offered long-term contracts to five of its most valuable cricketers if they decide against playing IPL. (IPL 2017 - Full Coverage | Points Table)
As per a report in TOI, the three-year deals have been offered to stars Steven Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, if they pledge to quit playing in IPL during their official leave time.
CA's team performance manager Pat Howard is said to have got in touch with Smith, Warner, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood, asking them to not play the IPL.
The BCCI, meanwhile, is busy exploring the US, for a possibility to host a cricket series yet again after successfully hosting two T20 Internationals between India and the West Indies last year in Florida.
Reports also suggest that a tri-series has been proposed by BCCI, featuring England and Australia and the talks are in final stages.
ICC's independent chairman, Shashank Manohar, who isn't a supporter of IPL, has been invited by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to watch the tournament final on May 21 and it needs to be seen if he gets involved in the whole scenario.
